SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 46: Thoughts and Heated Passions

Chapter 46: Thoughts and Heated Passions

Zeno’s body slipped from my hands, crumpling like a puppet with cut strings. I stood on the balcony, the fading cheers of the crowd rising toward me like a distant echo.

I was too exhausted to process it.

Kuroen—its summoning drained more energy than I could have imagined, and I hadn’t even trained with him properly.

The world spun. My eyelids grew heavy.

Kokuto Café...

I should go there. I wonder if they’re open right now. I just... want something sweet.

Then came silence.

My body moved on its own, collapsing onto the balcony’s edge—then tumbling off.

I couldn’t stand anymore.

The next day. Elsewhere, the world stirred.

The news of me—the hunter who had summoned wings from Kuroen’s armor—swept across the globe like wildfire. Everyone was talking about it: two winged beings battling mid-air like gods.

The Association had to act.

They found me unconscious, and rather than treat me like a hero, they locked me up—inside their headquarters, behind bars—waiting for me to wake.

But two days already passed, and I didn’t.

The Association. Medical wing.

Dr. Shin Kyung-soo was conducting an examination.

"You’re clear," he said as the dark-haired man stepped out of the cryo-chamber.

"Anything, Doc?"

"No changes, no damage. You were examined just last week, remember? Why another scan?"

"I thought maybe I picked up a demonic virus."

"That’s impossible. You were only in the Orange Zone for, what, two hours?"

"You can’t be too cautious in our world, Doc. Today you’re breathing, tomorrow you’re a corpse."

The doctor chuckled, unsure whether to laugh or worry.

"Well, I’m heading back to my office."

"Be safe."

A few minutes later, Jisun sat alone in his room, staring blankly through a panoramic window that framed the city below like a painting.

The words came quietly.

"Every day it’s something. I haven’t slept right in weeks. Ki-hyun with wings, fighting a humanoid demon... My head won’t stop spinning."

He, too, had seen the footage.

"They’re calling him an imposter. A possible demon agent. It sounds insane... but denying it outright feels naive. There’s too much evidence stacked against him."

With a long sigh, he closed his eyes.

"The world’s crumbling. What do we do now? Where do we go? Demon of Hatred is still caged... and I don’t even have a plan."

A woman’s voice drifted in through the door.

"You’re too handsome for that kind of melancholy."

Jisun turned, finding Sashi Heiwa standing casually by the entrance.

"I didn’t know the strongest hunter talked to himself when no one’s watching."

"Stress relief," he said dryly. "What brings you here, Miss Heiwa?"

"Just Sashi is fine," she replied, approaching his desk with calm authority. "I’m now the official liaison of the Association here in Korea."

"Congratulations. Though I’m curious—why come to me?"

"I wanted to discuss yesterday’s event. Locking up an SSS-ranked hunter may seem extreme, but given the circumstances, it was necessary. We also detained Hizumi Mikage. She seems... unusually perceptive, doesn’t she?"

"She is. Did she say anything?"

"She refuses to talk until Lee Ki-hyun wakes. Surveillance footage and undercover agents confirm they had a close relationship."

"And you, Sashi... Do you believe the accusations against him? Is Ki-hyun truly a demon?"

"Eyewitnesses heard him conversing with a demon mid-battle—although the audio was fractured. More concerning is Kuroen’s evolved form. Those wings... they don’t just raise eyebrows, they raise alarms."

Jisun cursed under his breath.

"What about the Chairman? Any answers from him?"

"He gave this during interrogation yesterday."

She quoted Su-won’s words with precision:

"We knew nothing for certain. 50% demonic blood... It’s unprecedented. Even other S-rank hunters have failed similar tests. Ki-hyun is the son of a legendary demon hunter—Lee Yeon-ho—who served the people with honor."

Jisun narrowed his eyes.

"I also failed several blood tests. My own demonic blood level is 34%."

"I’m aware," Sashi said softly. "It’s not easy. We’re staring at a puzzle that keeps expanding. Tell me, Mr. Ji-sun... Do you believe demonic blood is really a divine gift?"

He didn’t know either:

"It’s haunted me my whole life. Where did it come from? Why humans? Some questions are just... harder to answer."

"But answers do exist."

"Oh? And how do we find them?"

"Have you also noticed the weirdness in history, Ji-sun? The year 2026, demons attacked the East, and 20 years later, humans with demon blood appeared... The books indicate that the demons evolved into humans a couple years later, but the first humanoids were there before that... Maybe there were man-like demons before that, but it just wasn’t mentioned anywhere?"

"Hm..."

"And Ki-hyun’s father—Lee Yeon-ho—was among the first demon hunters. His birthdate matches the demon invasion."

"We’re going deep down the rabbit hole now... but I see your point. If that’s true, then Kang Su-won and Dr. Shin Kyung-soo may know more than they’ve admitted."

"Isn’t Dr. Shin the first doctor to ever examine demon hunters?"

"He is."

"Then we can’t accuse them for now... but we can observe them."

Jisun gave her a slight nod.

"I think you’ll handle that just fine, Sashi Heiwa. As for me, I’ll sit here and reflect on life."

"You’re too hard on yourself, Sir Ji-sun."

"Join me for a moment, will you? Look out at the city. This may be the last peaceful moment we have. I’d like to enjoy it before chaos begins again."

With a gentle smile, she stepped beside him and looked through the glass.

"You’re a strange one," she murmured.

Meanwhile, in the director’s office.

Chairman Kang Su-won sat with his fingers interlocked, shadows pooled beneath his eyes. Sleep had evaded him for days. The news from yesterday had only made it worse.

At his side stood Yuhwa, his loyal silver-haired aide.

"This world... what is happening?" Su-won muttered. "The virus, the Hive, double agents... and now Ki-hyun. What am I supposed to do?"

"You need rest," Yuhwa said gently. "The public doesn’t know Ki-hyun is imprisoned yet. There’s still time to make decisions."

"I told him to stay away. Why didn’t he listen?"

"Perhaps," Yuhwa replied, "you should’ve focused less on protecting the Association’s image—and more on saving people. That’s why he didn’t listen."

Su-won’s voice cracked.

"I failed him. He was all that remained of Lee Yeon-ho. I could’ve explained everything. But I chose to be cold... selfish."

"We’ve already lost two valuable hunters. And Ki-hyun... We can’t trust him anymore. His powers clearly aren’t human. Umbra could strike at any moment. What’s our move?"

"...I don’t know."

The honesty in his answer stunned Yuhwa.

"I see."

"What would you do, Yuhwa?"

"If I were you... I’d resign. Let fresh minds take over. Maybe our generation isn’t capable of solving crises this big."

"You’re harsh," Su-won said, scratching his greying head. His hands trembled slightly.

"You’ve lost weight, sir. And your hair..."

"Don’t remind me," he smiled weakly. "You know... I’d love to talk to my daughter right now. It’s been far too long. And after that, maybe... have a real conversation with Ki-hyun. Just him and me. Maybe then I’ll find peace."

"Yes, Chairman. The world... is becoming unrecognizable."